Dual Degrees in Theology and Social Work

Contact

For contact information, please visit the School of Theology website and the School of Social Work website.

The two dual degree programs combine the School of Theology Master of Divinity and Master of Theological Studies with a Master of Social Work from BU’s School of Social Work.

Requirements

Optimally, the duration for each dual degree program is:

Three years (full time) to complete the requirements for the Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Theological Studies (MTS)

Four years (full time) to complete the Master of Social Work (MSW) and the Master of Divinity (MDiv)

Students should begin their program with one full year at the School of Theology (STH), taking one course each semester in the School of Social Work (see plans of study). During the second year, students complete the School of Social Work “Foundation Year,” in which the School of Social Work becomes their “home school.” In subsequent years, the student is again an STH student taking no more than 50% of his or her coursework in the School of Social Work.

The following SSW classes have been approved for STH Cluster lists, impacting the MDiv and MTS dual degree students:

Admissions

To be admitted to one of the dual degree programs, a student must meet the entrance requirements of each school. MDiv/MSW and MTS/MSW require a 3.0 GPA.

Students are encouraged to apply initially to the School of Theology, but an application expressing the clear intent to engage in the dual degree program may be submitted to both schools at the same time. If the student is already enrolled in one of the schools, he or she must still apply to the other school for admission.

The programs are not open to students who have already completed one of the joint degrees (either the MSW or an MTS or MDiv) at another graduate school.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Students pay the tuition of their home school. Given the substantial difference in the cost of tuition at the two schools, a student from the School of Theology should anticipate significantly higher costs for those semesters when the majority of credits are from the School of Social Work.

School of Theology financial assistance is possible for qualified STH students depending on their degree program—only for the years in which the School of Theology is their home school.